Method of regulating the output of carbon monoxide in a metallurgical melting process

Abstract

In a method of regulating the output of CO in steel production, oxygen is introduced into a melt to remove carbon present, the actual value of the carbon stream evolved from the melt is determined, the intended value of the evolved carbon stream derived from the amount of oxygen introduced and the carbon content of the melt is calculated, intended and actual values are compared with one another and if the actual value is below the intended value, measures for preventing boiling are undertaken.

1. A method of regulating the output of CO in steel production, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying oxygen to a melt in a steel production process to remove carbon present, 
 determining an actual value of a carbon stream which is released from the melt, 
 determining an amount of oxygen supplied to the melt, 
 determining a carbon content of the melt, 
 calculating an expected value of the carbon stream based at least on the determined amount of oxygen supplied to the melt and the determined carbon content of the melt, 
 comparing the determined actual value of the carbon stream with the expected value of the carbon stream, and 
 based on the results of the comparison of the actual value of the carbon stream with the expected value of the carbon stream, determining whether to take a corrective measure, wherein the corrective measure includes either supplying additional carbon to the melt or adjusting the amount of oxygen supplied to the melt. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the amount of oxygen supplied to the melt comprises reducing the supply of oxygen to the melt. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining a difference between the actual value of the carbon stream and the expected value of the carbon stream, 
 comparing the difference between the actual and the expected values of the carbon stream with a predetermined threshold, and 
 determining whether to take the corrective measure based on the results of the comparison between the difference between the actual and the expected values of the carbon stream with the predetermined threshold.